Police prepare to take to rafts

FILE

Tomorrow, 180 police staff from around the North Island will compete for glory in the annual New Zealand Police Association Raft Race on Rotorua's Kaituna River.

This year will mark the 8th anniversary of this extreme event which has grown to be one of the largest police sporting events.

This year's event will include two different race types; whitewater rafting and riversurfing.

Thirty six teams of four people will compete in the whitewater rafting, coming from as far away as Wellington and Northland.

The races are being held on a 1.2km stretch of the Kaituna River which includes seven sets of Grade Three rapids with names like The Abyss and Boiling Pot.

If this isn't enough, competitors will need to navigate three waterfalls - one of which is the world's highest commercially rafted waterfall to just reach the start line.

Event organiser, Sergeant Aaron Holloway, describes the event as "socially competitive and a great team spirited event".

"This is a highly contested event which has grown significantly from the nine teams who competed in the inaugural event. The rules state that there is to be no "grabbing" of other rafts - however competitive contact between the rafts is encouraged.

"This is a spectacular part of the country, and we are lucky to have the Kaituna River on our backdoor step. It's the perfect location for the NZ Police Association Raft Race."

Sergeant Holloway said there will be six whitewater rafting heats and two semi finals held across the day, with the finals expected to take place between 5pm and 6pm.

This format will see the winners and second place getters from the semi finals battling it out in the final.

Teams enter the Kaituna River at Okere Falls, and raft over three waterfalls to reach the official start line below the Tutea Falls.

One member from each team stands on a metre high rock, jumping into the river and swimming to the raft to officially start the race.

As in previous years there will be 4 heats of riversurfing with first and second going in the final.

Sergeant Holloway said a Department of Conservation walking track adjacent to the Kaituna River provided excellent vantage points for supporters and members of the public.